Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas was 23,401 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe is 23,401 people, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 54,504 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 23,401 people, in 2024.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 72nd of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 54,504 people | — |
| 2001 | 53,204 people | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 52,030 people | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 50,873 people | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 49,654 people | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 48,402 people | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 47,122 people | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 45,816 people | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 44,479 people | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 43,104 people | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 41,676 people | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 40,210 people | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 38,720 people | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 37,245 people | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 35,783 people | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 34,340 people | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 32,915 people | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 31,512 people | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 30,143 people | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 28,815 people | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 27,637 people | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 26,544 people | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 25,454 people | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 24,412 people | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 23,401 people | -4.1% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 23,401 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 539,517 people, 4% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 23,401 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.16 million people, 2% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 48,919 people | 43,104 people | 54,504 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,136 people | 28,815 people | 41,676 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 25,490 people | 23,401 people | 27,637 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 69 Saudi Arabia 29,709 people compare
- 70 Kiribati 27,806 people compare
- 71 Paraguay 23,685 people compare
- 73 Uzbekistan 17,953 people compare
- 74 Cape Verde 16,777 people compare
- 75 Equatorial Guinea 16,093 people compare
More reference data data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0038 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.006 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0126 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.014 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0319 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0601 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe was 23,401 people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sanitation facilities usage in rural areas recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 54,504 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in rural areas recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,401 people in 2024.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for sanitation facilities usage in rural areas?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 72nd out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in rural areas rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Open defecation includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.